No Traintracks, No Brickwalls

[Overread]

There no doubt that true originality it pretty hard to come by, but certain settings and subjects are so far to the extreme opposite of originality as to be seriously tired... To the point of being painful.

I've always tried (tried!) to only take the shots I felt were more unique.

As someone pointed out... A pro isn't likely to deny a customer request. My weddings have an almost unavoidably high percentage of typical images, but those aren't the ones I strive for.

Since this forum is about being not just a better photographer, but (I think) about being a better artist, it seems a good idea to call out cliches for what they are.

I recall Zak Arias saying something along the lines that on the road to becoming a professional photographer one often has to do a lot of work that isn't photography, but involves a camera, until such time as you are good enough for people to come to you to pay you to do photography.

 

[pharmakon]

What if you combined railroad tracks with selective color... would the double cliche cancel itself out??

Under my umbrella-ella | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
or even better...

Ducks on railroad tracks! | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

(Not my photos, could only post a link)

 

[manaheim]

There no doubt that true originality it pretty hard to come by, but certain settings and subjects are so far to the extreme opposite of originality as to be seriously tired... To the point of being painful.

I've always tried (tried!) to only take the shots I felt were more unique.

As someone pointed out... A pro isn't likely to deny a customer request. My weddings have an almost unavoidably high percentage of typical images, but those aren't the ones I strive for.

Since this forum is about being not just a better photographer, but (I think) about being a better artist, it seems a good idea to call out cliches for what they are.

I recall Zak Arias saying something along the lines that on the road to becoming a professional photographer one often has to do a lot of work that isn't photography, but involves a camera, until such time as you are good enough for people to come to you to pay you to do photography.

You know, I was thinking something along those lines as I was writing it... eventually you'd get good enough that the customers wouldn't be dictating as much, and you'd likely just tell them to go get a "typical photographer" if that's what they were looking for. Sounds like maybe I wasn't that far from the mark.

I highly doubt I'll ever see that day, personally, however.

 

[Ron Evers]

those things are scary... one chased me around the pond!!

More likely it was a goose that chased you.

Geese are often better than German Shepherds as Guard dogs!

No kidding!

We had a fenced acre with two small ponds that housed free range pigs, ducks & geese & @ the gate was a sign "Beware of Geese".

I would take kitchen scraps down & toss them over the gate for the critters & one time a Goose laid claim as a pig barged in & tried to get some. The goose grabbed that pig by the jowl & hung on with the pig running about squealing. The poor pig sported the mark of the goose for @ least a week.

Oh, how we get off topic but I do like to share some of our life's experiences.

 

[Overread]

I think most get to a point where they are able to have some of their creative outlet, whilst also providing the staple bread and butter work to earn their keep. But where the staple work is the greater (generally speaking) bulk of their workload/earning. It is the rarer few who get good enough (and market themselves well enough) that they become sought out specifically for their creative side alone (and even then they'll have staple/stock creative options to get the keeper shots when needed = at least if attending events such as a wedding).

 

[GeorgieGirl]

Omg.. You guys are on crack ( as we say here at home)...